Psychometric testing of the 10-item perceived stress scale for Chinese nurses

Abstract

Background

Nurses bear a lot of stressors at work. The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a widely used self-reported scale for measuring the global perception of stress. However, there is a lack of use of the PSS-10 in Chinese nurses. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the PSS-10 among Chinese nurses.

Methods

A total of 708 Chinese nurses completed the PSS-10, the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the factor structure of the PSS-10. Cronbach’s α and test-retest correlation examined the scale reliability. Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression analyses tested the convergent, discriminant and criterion validity of the PSS-10.

Results

CFA revealed that a two-factor model fits the structure of the PSS-10 in Chinese nurses ( χ ²/ df = 6.25, p < 0.001; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.94, non-normal fit index [NNFI] = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.91, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.08, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.05). The scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency (α = 0.86) and test-retest reliability ( r = 0.66, p < 0.001), satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity with relations to Big Five personalities, as well as good criterion validity such that the PSS-10 score could explain incremental variance in predicting anxiety, depression and stress.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that PSS-10 is a reliable and valid measure of perceived stress among Chinese nurses and can be used in future research and practice on stress management and coping in Chinese nurses.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-023-01602-4.